(A/N: I do not own Paw Patrol, enjoy!)
Reflash
"Marshall" the adult male Dalmatian said firmly, "you will come with me downstairs and we will discuss your transgressions. Cinder, you will go with your mother. We will switch when we are done. When we are done with both of you, you will wait silently and patiently until we are done with this 'Augie' pup. Then we will decide what to do."
"Yes sir" Marshall meekly replied as he followed his father down the stairs.
"You, young lady, are in a lot of trouble" the female Dalmatian said softly, but severely.
"Yes mom" Cinder softly replied as she followed her mother into Ryder's office. The door shut behind her with an audible click. No one moved until they heard the doors as the base of the Lookout whoosh open and then shut.
"What's going on" Gasket nervously whispered. "Who are those dogs?"
"Marshall's and Cinder's parents" Everest quietly replied. "Sparks and Ashlyn, aka Ash."
"Did you see his spots, they were huge" Rubble whispered.
"But there were so few of them," Skye noted. "Whereas Ash looked almost bespeckled."
"No wonder Marshall's and Cinder's pattern is so chaotic" Rocky mused. "This must be the trouble Marshall was worried about."
"Wowwied may not have been enough, tewwified would have been better" Zuma said with a shudder.
"I'm sure it will be fine," Everest said with a nonchalant wave of her paw.
"I don't know, they seem pretty upset about something" Dwayne said hesitantly.
"No talking in the ranks" Chase barked from where he stood guard over the still tied-up Augie.
Everyone obediently shut their yappers, though Skye and Everest shared an amused look with each other.
—
Sparks purposefully strode out onto the grass surrounding the Lookout. He kept walking until he felt they were far enough away so as to not be heard by any of the other pups before taking a seat. Marshall sat down opposite him; his anxious fidgeting apparent. The two were quiet for a moment.
"I'm disappointed, Marshall," Sparks said finally. "You know how much your reports mean to your mother and I. Not hearing from you for so long, especially with everything that has been going on, is especially distressing. I expect you to do better in the future."
"Yes sir" Marshall said, a mixture of sadness at his failure mixed with determination to do better ringing in his voice. "I'm ready to give my report."
"That won't be fully necessary," Sparks said with a dismissive wave of his paw. "Everest has kept your mother informed well enough. It is not the same, but it has kept her at bay." Marshall winced in embarrassment. "I would, however, like to hear your report on this most recent incident."
"Yes sir," Marshall said, sitting up tall. "Cinder was involved in an arson investigation in Heartland. She called me after she determined that she and Augie were being targeted by the arsonist. She informed me that she was going to fight fire with fire. She did not actually have a plan at that point. As far as I can tell, her plan actually worked as she expected, but the arsonist personally intervened to try and kill her. She and Augie both ended up getting shot in the ensuing confrontation. The Paw Patrol was part of the response to the situation and I helped Cinder stabilize Augie. The bullet that went through both of them contained a weaponized variant of rabies, which required a complicated procedure to treat. Once Cinder and Augie were discharged, there was a press conference about everything, which Cinder ended by kissing Augie. Then they came here to recover out of the public eye and where they would not be an imposition on anyone."
"Who said they were an imposition" Sparks growled.
"As far as I know, no one" Marshall replied. "Cinder just felt that way with the Station 25 crew caring for her at her apartment."
"Very well, what do you know about Augie?" Sparks pressed to his real interest.
"He is a smart pup" Marshall said. "He cares about Cinder and admires her both personally and professionally. As far as I can tell, he has no ill intent."
"Does the fact that he cleared you when you were accused of starting that forest fire affect your judgement?" Sparks asked suspiciously.
"No" Marshall confirmed, "I have informed him in no uncertain terms of what will happen to him if he is not honest and true."
"You have or Everest has?" Sparks asked curiously.
"Both" Marshall replied. "Everest's warning may have been more colorful, but the point was clearly received in both cases."
"And what of Cinder's attachment to Augie?" Sparks inquired. Marshall's pause to gather his thoughts was not lost on the elder Dalmatian. "I'm not asking you to betray your sister's confidence," Sparks clarified. "But you do know her better than anyone else, in a way no one else can. You know her pain, and what she has been through. Is she thinking clearly?"
"Yes," Marshall replied confidently. "While that kiss on TV may have been impulsive, she is not letting her emotions drive her thinking."
"Good" Sparks said as he stood, with Marshall doing the same. "Your mother also has some very pointed questions for you." The Dalmatians walked side by side back towards the Lookout.
"Hey dad," Marshall said softly, "I'm glad you are here."
Sparks gave his son a small side-smile in response. It was enough to make both tails wag.
"Just what were you thinking young lady?" Ash aggressively accosted her daughter behind the closed door.
"About what?" Cinder softly replied, trying to defuse her mother's anger.
"How many boneheaded things have you done lately?" Ash challenged.
"None?" Cinder softly hopped.
"Stop avoiding, Cinder," Ash cautioned. "You know very well why your father and I are here."
"It was one kiss," Cinder softly protested. "Marshall and Everest do it on live TV more frequently; it's perfectly normal."
"Their first kiss wasn't on live TV" Ash shot back. "And while Everest makes it no secret exactly how she feels about your brother, he still manages to reign her in enough to not get them in trouble."
"It almost makes me curious to see what she would be like off leash" Cinder softly mused.
"Don't tempt her. The question still stands," Ash continued, "what were you thinking? I thought we raised you better than that."
"You say that like I did something awful" Cinder softly whined.
"I don't know if you did or not," Ash said with gentle firmness. "What you did was out of your character. I know you, my daughter. You are calculating and deliberate; you don't make rash decisions. You are more than capable of making good decisions at high speed in a dynamic environment. Why, then, did you randomly get a wild hair up your tail and decide to attack Augie's face on live TV?"
"He didn't seem to mind," Cinder softly protested.
"He wouldn't" Ash replied, "you literally disconnected his brain from his body. Unless he hated you, all he would do is kiss you back. And now, here we are."
Cinder could see her mother wasn't going to drop it. "I took a chance, ok?" she softly blurted out. "I thought we might like each other, and I didn't want to do what Marshall did and tap dance around life waiting to figure it out. I just wanted an answer, and that reporter's questions provided the perfect opportunity to find out while also getting them off of our collective case. So, here we are, figuring it out together."
"Was that so hard?" Ash gently soothed her worked up daughter.
"And that's another thing," Cinder softly continued. "I know why you are here. You are going to add your threats on top of Marshall's and Everest's, and Augie is going to be so afraid of me that he'll flee to Siberia the first chance he gets."
"That is not nearly far enough," Ash softly chuckled. "And, yes, that will happen. If that makes him run, will he stick with you when things get tough? I'm not saying answers need to be found now, but it is something to consider. That is part of your journey together." Ash gently cupped Cinder's face in her paws. "Enjoy figuring it out, Cinder. Just make sure you use that beautiful big brain you've been gifted with."
"Yes, mom," Cinder softly surrendered.
"Now, since you've neglected to mention him previously, tell me everything about him," Ash continued.
"Everything?" Cinder softly squeaked, turning a brilliant shade of pink under her spots.
Marshall and Sparks sat silently outside of Ryder's office, one on either side of the door. Suddenly, the door flew open, catching Marshall by surprise and squashing him into the wall.
"Rookie mistake" Sparks softly chuckled as his mate strode purposefully out.
"Come on, Marshall" Ash expectantly called as she started down the stairs.
"Coming, Mom" Marshall said as he scraped himself off the wall and trotted after the briskly disappearing tail.
Sparks just shook his head in amusement before closing the door to Ryder's office behind him.
"Well, I think we know where Marshall's clumsiness comes from,'' Rocky quietly joked.
"It's like watching a cawtoon" Zuma agreed.
"Ready to report" Cinder softly said, sitting up as straight as her injury allowed.
Sparks said nothing as he crossed to his daughter. Without saying anything, he wrapped his paws around her in a hug. To say Cinder was startled was an understatement; it took her a few moments to recover and start returning the hug.
"No need to report, let's just talk" Sparks said quietly as he squeezed his daughter tighter.
"I don't understand" Cinder softly replied, confusion evident in her voice.
"I'm just glad you are alive" Sparks continued quietly. "Marshall told me the key points, in particular how close we came to losing you."
"It wasn't that close" Cinder softly protested.
"Never underestimate a biological weapon, especially one designed to kill you" Sparks softly replied. "There is a reason that the CBR (chemical, biological, radiological) procedures are so strict."
"Yes dad" Cinder softly replied.
The two were silent a little longer as Sparks just held his daughter.
"Now, I just have one question" Sparks finally said as he released Cinder. "About this 'Augie' pup."
"And what would that be?" Cinder softly replied, stiffening slightly.
"Does he make you happy?" Sparks simply asked. "Is he a good pup that will be honest and true to you?"
"That's two questions, dad" Cinder softly corrected.
"No, just one question asked two different ways" Sparks softly replied.
Cinder paused to think about that, what was her dad asking her? Then it came to her. He wants to know what, if anything, do I need him to do. Do I need him to protect me or just step back and let things work themselves out?
"Just your love and support, and the space to figure it out myself" Cinder softly replied.
"You'll always have the first two" Sparks replied with a smile as he wrapped Cinder in his paws again. "I'll do my best with the last one."
Cinder just smiled as she let herself be held.
"You need to get your sister under control" Ash stated plainly as she stepped outside and started walking around the Lookout.
"That is funny that you think I could do that" Marshall snorted with amusement as he followed his mom.
"You could have stopped her from kissing him on live TV" Ash pressed.
"I was here, mom," Marshall explained, "and I didn't know she was going to do it. Even if I was there, the only thing I could have done is make it awkward as we fought for control of her muscles. But I wouldn't have done that."
"And why not?" Ash asked obstinately.
"Because that would have been rude and inconsiderate for me to do" Marshall replied. "I get that you are upset about it, mom, but it's done and she is happy with her choice."
"And how much did you know about the possibility before she did it?" Ash shifted her line on inquiry.
"Just that she wanted to get to know him better," Marshall admitted with a shrug. "She was curious about where their friendship would lead after the case."
"I guess she figured that out her own way," Ash noted. "Which brings me to my next question. What are you doing?"
"Doing about what?" Marshall asked in confusion.
"About that lovely lavender Husky whom can't seem to keep her paws off of you" Ash clarified.
"It is entirely mutual" Marshall replied, slightly miffed. "I also happen to think I've done an adequate job of reining her in."
"And you think that is going to keep working?" Ash said with an amused snort of her own.
"It will work long enough," Marshall said with a shrug.
Ash stopped to lock blue eyes with her son. "What are you planning, Marshall?"
The pups were starting to get antsy with all the waiting. Perfectly on cue, Marshall and Ash returned up the stairs while Sparks and Cinder walked out from Ryder's office.
"Chase, please bring Augie in here" Sparks directed as Ash walked past him into the office.
"Yes sir," Chase replied. The police pup united Augie before scooping him onto his back. Chase could feel Augie quaking as he carried him into Ryder's office. He then deposited the jet-black Belgian Shepherd in front of Sparks and Ash. Chase closed the door behind himself as he left.
"Augie" Sparks began formally, "I have one question for you. I understand this is quite sudden and that my daughter has brought you on a whirlwind of a ride. I also understand that Marshall and Everest have been quite clear on certain things."
Augie gulped in acknowledgement, eliciting a predatory smile from Ash.
"With no need to revisit that" Sparks continued, "I just want to make sure you are sincere in wanting to get to know Cinder better. She did ambush you with it, and I don't want you to feel as if the rest of your life has been planned for you without your consent."
"Sir, I can assure you I am sincere" Augie replied slowly and carefully. "I don't pretend to know what the future holds, but I am excited to find out what that is with Cinder."
"Very well, thank you for your honesty," Sparks said. "Shall we go see what your immediate future holds?" The large Dalmatian turned towards the door as Ash walked over to Augie.
"My mate may not say it" Ash whispered to Augie as she scooped him into her back, "but I will. If at any point, you do something to intentionally hurt Cinder and not in good faith, you better hope Marshall is the one who gets to you first. I'm not saying you can't choose to no longer date her, but if you do reach that conclusion, she deserves to know as soon as possible in the kindest way you can manage."
Augie gulped and nodded.
"Pups, thank you for your time and patience as we sorted out some family business" Sparks said as he walked out. Ash deposited Augie a couple feet away from Cinder, prompting the younger Dalmatian to scoot slightly closer. "Now that it is completed, we shall move onto the fun part of our visit. And what better way to kick that off than with a BBQ. Ryder?"
"Everything should be ready in a few minutes," Ryder replied with a thankful exhale.
"Thank you, and thank you for letting us handle things our way," Sparks replied.
"Told you it would be fine" Everest said to nobody in particular as she walked over towards Marshall and gave him an affectionate lick on the cheek.
"Rocky, would you like some help getting set up?" Sparks asked the recycling pup.
"Not with the tables" Rocky replied, "I'll just move them with my truck. Zuma and Rubble might need help with the rest, though."
"Let's go grab everything," Rubble said, turning towards the stairs.
Rocky turned and ran to the slide before sliding down and into his truck. He felt an additional thud as he checked everything. "Can't stay away?" he teased.
"I'm not ready to be around everyone just yet," Gasket replied.
"It is a lot," Rocky admitted as he guided his truck down to the garage to grab the tables.
"Can you show me how to work everything?" Gasket hesitantly asked.
"Sure" Rocky said with a smile as he scooted over to make room for the Malamute in front of the controls.
"Are you ok?" Cinder whispered to Augie. She made sure her mother, in particular, was out of earshot. Thankfully, she was talking with Skye as she walked down the stairs.
"I think so" Augie said, letting out a bit of a breath. "We can figure it out together."
"Good" Cinder softly replied, giving him a peck on the cheek. Augie returned the peck.
"You guys coming?" Marshall asked from the top of the stairs. They realized that all the other pups had left.
"Coming," Cinder softly said.
"Let me try a few steps first," Augie replied. The Belgian Shepherd stood, and tentatively took a step forward. He took four steps before stopping.
"Take one more," Marshall said, walking over to be ready to catch Augie in case his back gave out.
"I don't think I can," Augie replied with a frustrated sigh.
"Just one more" Cinder softly pressed.
Hesitantly, Augie took one more step. He could feel his body trying to give up but he also felt Marshall helping to ensure he didn't fall. "I can't do another" Augie stated with a sigh.
"One step at a time" Marshall said as he scooped Augie onto his back. The three of them trotted down the stairs together.
As they reached the bottom, they found Chase sitting in the doorway. "What's got you hiding over here?" Marshall asked playfully.
"Take a look" Chase half-growled.
The pups poked their heads out. All they could see was Rocky's truck placing the table. Then Marshall noticed who was in the cab. "Well, I guess we know who the chicken is now," he teased.
"What?!" Chase yipped defiantly.
"Yeah, too scared of being out there while Gasket is learning to operate Rocky's truck" Marshall continued.
"I'm not afraid," Chase protested.
"Then how come you are hiding back here?" Marshall pressed. "She is doing a better job than Zuma did when he got behind the controls of his hovercraft for the first time."
"He was much younger then," Chase protested, "and she has someone right there to help her."
"Which is what makes you the chicken," Marshall smirked triumphantly. "Zuma straight up ran you over and you still were out there helping him."
"That was different," Chase continued to protest.
"Sure it was, Chicka-Chase" Marshall teased as he turned and walked to join the others.
"I'm not a chicken!" Chase barked after him but Marshall either didn't hear or ignored him.
"Then why are you still here?" Cinder softly asked. "No one is asking you to be her best friend, just to give her a chance like any other new pup. You weren't like this with Texas."
"Texas is different," Chase asserted.
"You don't know that" Cinder softly challenged. "Before she came here, there are lots of things she could have done that she just never told us about. You just happen to think you know about Gasket's past" Cinder then turned and walked towards the other pups.
Chase thought about that for a moment before he realized Cinder was right. Texas has told them parts of her past, but certainly not everything. There was plenty she could have not told them. And Chase wouldn't blame her, lots of pups they had met and rescued had things they didn't like to share about their past. Chase also realized he only knew part of Gasket's past, there were things he didn't know about her too.
But that doesn't matter, Gasket is a criminal through and through. Chase let that thought echo in his head for a minute. Unbidden it had come, and part of him wanted to believe it and take it as fact. But in the opposite corner of his mind, he heard a different voice. Maybe she doesn't want her past to define her future. Chase pondered that as he trotted over to join the others.
"What is that appetizing smell?" Rubble asked as the pups all found spots at the table.
"More like an appeteasing smell" Everest said reverently as her tummy let out an involuntary growl.
"BBQ ribs" Sparks intoned with a smile as Ryder brought out the tray covered in foil. "The sauce is an old family recipe."
There wasn't a dry mouth to be found as Ryder dished up a plate for each pup. Everyone was about to dive in when a soft but commanding voice cut through the excitement.
"Aren't we missing someone, Ryder?" Ash inquired.
Ryder took a quick look around to double check. "No, all pups accounted for.
"And where is Katie?" Ash pressed, "it would be quite rude to not share this with her."
"Umm…" Ryder fumbled for an answer.
"You should go collect her" Ash directed to get Ryder moving in the right direction.
"Right, got it" Ryder said before running to the garage to go fetch Katie on his ATV.
"We aren't waiting for them, are we?" Rocky asked nervously.
"Absolutely not," Sparks replied firmly, "tuck in, pups!"
The thankful sigh was immediately replaced with various eating noises as the pups attacked their food with gusto.
No one even noticed when Ryder returned with Katie. "Wow, they didn't even bother waiting" Ryder snarked to Katie.
"Don't pout, Ryder, it is unbecoming of you" Ash said as the mother Dalmatian raised her head. "Plus, we are not in danger of running out of food. Help your girlfriend first and then you may eat."
"Yes, ma'am" Ryder replied obediently as he moved to do as directed. Katie barely managed to hold in her laughter as Ash flashed her a wink before resuming eating.
"How do I get that kind of response out of you?" Katie teased as Ryder brought plates over for both of them.
"What response?" Ryder asked in surprise.
"Never mind" Katie giggled as she gave him a kiss on the cheek before they both tucked into the delicious food.
The pups were all enjoying themselves as they chatted, but one was uncharacteristically quiet.
"What's wrong, Zoom?" Rocky nudged the water pup discreetly.
"Nothing" Zuma replied, flashing Rocky a grin.
"Meet me under the tree, later" Rocky told him, seeing right through the fake happiness.
"Whatever, dude" Zuma brushed him before trying to inject himself into a different conversation. Rocky just smiled as he turned to reply to something Gasket was whispering on his other side.
After dinner, most of the pups were on the edge of food comas as they waddled to their pup houses. "I think they liked it," Ash snickered to Sparks.
"I should hope so," Sparks replied in his deep, baritone voice, "I have not yet met a pup or person who did not appreciate my special recipe."
The two Dalmatians watched as Marshall gently shepherded Rubble to his pup house. The Bulldog may have been the most overstuffed out of all the pups, as he leaned against Marshall's foreleg for support. The two then turned to watch as Cinder helped Gasket. The Malamute was barely conscious of her surroundings.
"You know, I find it interesting that our pups are the ones helping others" Ash softly noted.
"I think we did a good job with them" Sparks concurred, rubbing his head against Ash's head affectionately.
"Busy congratulating yourselves on your pups?" Everest teased as she ambled over to join them, flush with victorious happiness.
"What if we are?" Ash playfully retorted.
"I think we have a lot to be proud of them for," Sparks added judiciously.
"No argument there" Everest giggled as she rubbed her side against Ash. "You don't have to tell me how lucky I am to have them."
"You and the other one" Sparks corrected, nodding in the direction of the unconscious Augie. The jet-black Belgian Shepherd was laying on his side on the bench. The only indication that he was alive was the steady rise and fall of his chest.
"Showcasing the best appreciation for your food that you could ask for" Ash snickered.
"We'll see" Everest countered. "I should probably take him to Marshall's bed, though."
"Not before I get my goodnight kiss" Cinder softly corrected as she trotted past them towards Augie.
"There she goes, sexually assaulting him again" Ash sighed in defeat.
"Oh, stop" Cinder softly whined as she slipped under the table and popped up with her head in front of Augie's. Cinder gently pressed her nose against Augie's for a moment or two before giving him a gentle kiss. He may not have been conscious, but his tail started to gently wag.
"Hard to argue with the tail" Everest snickered as she stopped next to the bench. Cinder gently slid Augie onto Everest's back and helped keep him steady as Everest carried him to Marshall's pup house.
"Again, we did a good job," Sparks said once they disappeared inside.
"You are going to sprain a paw patting yourselves on the back that hard" a soft voice floated between them.
Sparks and Ash both jumped away from the voice in surprise. They turned to look behind themselves and found Marshall smirking back at them.
"Well, with one of our spawn," Sparks corrected his previous statement.
"When did you get so quiet?" Ash softly demanded.
"Pup-Fu" Marshall replied, "there is a technique called 'quiet as a mouse' that I seem to excel at for some reason."
"We can see that" Sparks replied as he turned slightly to face both Marshall and Ash.
"That is one of the things I'm hoping to see while we are here" Ash revealed, "is you doing some of your Pup-Fu training. It is so different from everything else that you do."
"You are in luck; we are doing a session this Saturday" Marshall replied. "I think there are lots of things about it that will surprise you."
"I can't wait," Ash simpered.
"Can't wait for what?" Cinder softly asked as she and Everest rejoined them.
"Pup-Fu training this Saturday" Marshall informed the girls.
"Oh good, I could use the exertion" Everest said with a leer in Marshall's direction.
"Do I need to bring Marshall's pup pack to hose you down, Eve?" Cinder teased.
"More so to wash the mud out of her fur" Marshall teased back, "and everyone else's too."
"Goodnight you three" Sparks cut off further banter.
"I'll show you to your room" Marshall said before turning to talk towards the Lookout.
"Goodnight mom" Cinder softly said before giving her mom an affectionate lick on the cheek. "Goodnight dad," Cinder added before giving Sparks the same treatment.
"Goodnight sweetheart" Sparks said as he turned to follow Marshall.
"Goodnight, dears" Ash said to both Cinder and Everest as she brought up the rear.
"Forgetting something, Marshall?" Everest called after them.
Marshall bounded back and gave her a big smooch right on her muzzle. "Goodnight, Eve, love you!"
"I love you more," Everest whispered back.
"I love you most" Cinder softly teased as she cut between them and rubbed her head against both of their chins. They all laughed before parting. Marshall led his parents inside while Everest and Cinder proceeded into the former's pup house.
In the shadows, a pup waited. The temptation to dash across the driveway was great, but he had no idea how long Marshall would be inside. So, he waited.
It didn't take long before the last Dalmatian trotted out and then ducked into his pup house. The shadow pup waited a few more moments before slowly starting to slink across the driveway.
However, another pup had other ideas. As he stepped out of his pup house, he immediately caught sight of the sneaking pup. Shaking his head in amusement, he trotted up to him, tapped him on the shoulder, and then trotted into the grass. The shadow pup silently followed.
"Why are you being weird, dude?" Rocky asked as he sat down in the grass next to the big tree.
"Because I don't want to be seen, dude," Zuma whispered back.
"Why not?" Rocky asked. "And why are you whispering?"
"Because I don't want to be heawed" Zuma almost hissed back. "Can you keep it down, please?"
Rocky rolled his eyes in resignation. "Sure, for you, Zoom. But only if you tell me what is going on."
"Nothing is going on" Zuma quietly replied as he sat down next to the Grey-Mix.
Rocky shook his head. "You are a terrible liar, Zuma. Not as bad as Marshall, but anyone can tell you are hiding something."
"I don't want to talk about it" Zuma replied with a shrug.
"That much is at least accurate," Rocky confirmed. "And we don't have to if you don't want to."
"Then why did you dwag me out here?" Zuma quietly whined.
"I didn't, you dragged yourself" Rocky reminded him. "You could have just gone to bed."
"And left you hanging? Yeah, wight" Zuma replied with a snort.
"You said you didn't want to chat," Rocky reminded the Chocolate Lab. "I had no reason to expect that you would be here."
"Then why awe you hewe?" Zuma questioned.
"Because I offered, Zoom," Rocky reminded him caringly, "and I wanted to be here in case you changed your mind. I'm here for you, bro, whenever you need it."
"Awe you though, bwo?" Zuma's tone made the question a challenge. "You and Gasket awe a thing, now. You spend so much time with hew!"
"You could come down to the workshop, if you wanted," Rocky gently reminded him. "You didn't use that time with me anyway." Rocky held up his paw to forestall Zuma's retort. "I'm not denying I do spend a good part of my day with Gasket, just pointing out that I'm not doing so at the expense of everyone else any more than I did previously. I'm also not trying to downplay how you are feeling, Zuma, but I think there is more to it than just wanting to spend more time with me, isn't there?"
Zuma was quiet for a few minutes as he thought about what he wanted to say. "You awen't wwong" Zuma finally admitted. "I always wanted more of your lab time."
"You are my Lab time" Rocky teasingly interjected, earning him a brotherly shove from the Lab in question.
"You know what I meant," Zuma half-whined. "I just feel like I want it more now because someone else is enjoying that time with you."
"Are you lonely, Zuma?" Rocky asked softly. Zuma nodded affirmatively in reply. "Because you now feel left out because you, Rubble, and Tracker, are single, while Chase, Marshall, me, Skye and Everest are all in relationships?"
Zuma nodded again, "and also because Rubble has Texas."
"Uh, they definitely are not dating," Rocky stated in confusion. "Rubble couldn't hide that, and Texas made it very clear that she just wants to be friends with him and the rest of us."
"That's just it" Zuma whined, "Rubble is Texas's special friend, out of all of us. I know she has no romantic interest in any of us, but she is still very close with Rubble. And I don't have anyone that I'm especially close to!" A tear had formed in Zuma's eye and started to drip down.
"Oh, Zuma," Rocky said as he turned and wrapped his paws around the shaking Labrador, letting him bury his muzzle in Rocky's shoulder. "Nothing will ever replace the special bond we have." Rocky paused long enough to tilt Zuma's head up to look him in the eye. "We are brothers, Zoom, and we always will be. Sure, I have a relationship with Gasket, but she will never replace you."
Rocky let Zuma vent into his shoulder until the emotions subsided. "Thanks Rocky" Zuma whispered hoarsely. "I don't want our relationship to change."
"It will change, Zoom," Rocky gently corrected him, "just like Jake's relationship with both Marshall and Everest had to change, you can expect ours to change too. But it isn't a replacement. It's like the family is just getting bigger. Remember, Dwayne is joining the family too, not just Gasket."
"Yeah, that is different too," Zuma admitted. The Chocolate Lab turned to look out at the ocean. "It's going to keep changing, isn't it?"
"For sure," Rocky admitted, "all of us will find that special pup for ourselves, maybe sooner, maybe later. And I'd be willing to bet that it won't be long before Marshall and Everest become mates. Chase and Skye will take longer."
"What about you and Gasket?" Zuma asked.
"No idea," Rocky admitted with a shrug. "It is a bit too early to tell that yet."
"Well, you seem like a good fit," Zuma noted.
"It definitely did not start that way," Rocky softly laughed. "But that is a story for another night; we need to get some sleep. Don't you have lifeguard duty in the morning?"
"Yeah, maybe I'll see a cute pup at the beach tomorrow," Zuma hypothesized.
"Good luck that" Rocky teased as they stood and started walking towards their pup houses. "Goodnight, Zoom."
"Goodnight, Rock" Zuma said before ducking into his pup house.
"Love will come, Zuma," Rocky said almost silently to the empty yard. "You just need to be the real you, not hide behind your play-pup attitude."
As the Grey-Mix walked to his house, he didn't realize that the Chocolate Lab had heard his unsolicited advice.
A/N: Sorry for being a day late in posting. I hope all of you are enjoying the story so far! Also, I'm still looking for someone who can translate English to Japanese if anyone has that skill and wants to help!